Door handle assembly

ABSTRACT

A gaming terminal door handle assembly having a handle pivotably arranged on a support plate and an arrangement depending from the handle, configured to transfer force from the handle to a latch in the gaming terminal door in order to open or close the door is disclosed.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Cabinet structures are often used to house gaming terminal components. Rail and pin arrangements may be used to latch the doors in these cabinets. The rail may be raised by applying pressure to it through a small open space in the door. The space may be small enough to accommodate only one finger, however, the door may be heavy enough that some people would encounter great difficulty in applying the amount of force needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example conventional gaming terminal door latch.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example door handle assembly according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example door handle assembly according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the pieces of an example door handle assembly according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary lottery terminal having a door handle assembly according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example conventional door latch. The door may be in a gaming terminal cabinet. In the interior of the cabinet, various electronic components may be housed, such as a monitor, a processor, a gaming ticket printer, a money receptor, and a card reader. A flexible gasket may be arranged around the doorframe in order to seal the opening around the door. The door may include an aperture 103 through which a latch 105 may be accessed. Latch 105 may be arranged as part of a conventional rail and pin type of door attachment. The door may include a keyslot 107 which may be used to access a lock.

FIGS. 2A and 2B both illustrate an example door handle assembly according to an example embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 2A, a support plate 205 having an aperture 207 may be placed on the door. The support plate 205 may be placed over the aperture 103, such that the two apertures at least partially overlap. This allows the latch 105 to be accessed through the support plate 205. Screws may be used to secure the support plate 205 in place. The door handle 210 may be arranged on the support plate 205. The door handle 210 is shown in a closed position in FIG. 2A and in an open position in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the pieces of an example door handle assembly according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The door handle 210, may be pivotably attached to the front of the support plate 205 using a pivot pin 302. A washer 304 and a screw 306 may be used to secure the pivot pin 302. A cam roller 307 protrudes from the handle 210 into the aperture 207. A cam follower 308 may be secured to the cam roller 307 on the back of the support plate through aperture 207. A retaining device 310 may be applied to the handle so that the when the handle is raised into the open position it will remain in the open position.

According to another embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the present invention, an extension member may be provided, such as a lever, handle, or other movable member. An arrangement may be provided such that a force imparted on the extension member is transferred in order to open the door, for example, by raising a latch. This arrangement may include a cam shaft and cam follower, or a roller bearing, for example.

Therefore, the door handle assembly of the present invention, facilitates opening the door by providing a fulcrum to impart force to raise the latch. The cam shaft and cam roller are capable of withstanding high forces, thereby allowing the door to be repeatedly opened and closed with ease.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary lottery terminal having a door handle assembly according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

Gaming terminal 401 includes a cabinet 405, which may be opened using door handle assembly 410 located on the door 407. As an alternative, the door handle assembly may be located on the cabinet itself, rather than the door. The handle may be pulled down in the direction indicated by arrow A in order to release the latch mechanism in the door. A lock 412 may be disposed in the door handle assembly for security purposes. The present invention may be used with any suitable gaming terminal, for example, the gaming terminal described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,624. 

1. A door handle assembly, comprising: a support plate having a front side and a back side, wherein an aperture is disposed in the support plate; a handle pivotably arranged on the front of the support plate, wherein a cam shaft configured to be arranged in the aperture depends from the handle; and a cam follower disposed on the back of the support plate, coupled to the cam shaft.
 2. The door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the door handle assembly is configured to transfer force from the handle to a latch in order to move the latch.
 3. The door handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a retaining device configured to retain the handle in one of an open position and a closed position.
 4. A door handle assembly, comprising: a support plate having a front side and a back side, wherein an aperture is disposed in the support plate; a handle pivotably arranged on the front of the support plate; and a roller bearing arrangement depending from the handle, configured to transfer force from the handle to a latch in order to move the latch.
 5. A gaming terminal, comprising: a housing; a door movably attached to the housing, wherein the door is secured by a latch disposed in the housing; and a door handle assembly attached to one of the door and the housing, the door handle assembly including a support plate having a front side and a back side, wherein an aperture is disposed in the support plate, a handle pivotably arranged on the front of the support plate, wherein a cam shaft configured to be arranged in the aperture depends from the handle, and a cam follower disposed on the back of the support plate, coupled to the cam.
 6. The gaming terminal of claim 5, wherein the door handle assembly is configured to transfer force from the handle to the latch in order to move the latch.
 7. The gaming terminal of claim 5, further comprising: a retaining device configured to retain the handle in one of an open position and a closed position.
 8. The gaming terminal of claim 5, further comprising: electronic components disposed in the housing, the electronic components accessible by opening the door.
 9. The gaming terminal of claim 5, further comprising: at least one of a monitor, a processor, a gaming ticket printer, a money receptor, and a card reader.
 10. A gaming terminal, comprising: a housing; a door movably attached to the housing; and a door handle assembly attached to one of the door and the housing, the door handle assembly including a support plate having a front side and a back side, wherein an aperture is disposed in the support plate, a handle pivotably arranged on the front of the support plate, and a roller bearing arrangement depending from the handle, configured to transfer force from the handle to a door latch in the gaming terminal, to one of open and close the door latch.
 11. The gaming terminal of claim 10, further comprising: a retaining device configured to retain the handle in one of an open position and a closed position.
 12. The gaming terminal of claim 10, further comprising: electronic components disposed in the housing, accessible by opening the door handle assembly.
 13. The gaming terminal of claim 10, further comprising: at least one of a monitor, a processor, a gaming ticket printer, a money receptor, and a card reader.
 14. A gaming terminal, comprising: a housing; a door movably attached to the housing; a door latch disposed in the housing; an extension member movably attached to the housing; and means for transferring a force imparted on the extension member to the door latch, to one of open and close the door latch.
 15. The gaming terminal of claim 14, further comprising: a retaining device configured to retain the handle in one of an open position and a closed position.
 16. The gaming terminal of claim 14, further comprising: electronic components disposed in the housing, accessible by opening the door.
 17. The gaming terminal of claim 14, further comprising: at least one of a monitor, a processor, a gaming ticket printer, a money receptor, and a card reader. 